Secret Stays vs. Booking.com vs. Airbnb: Which Saves You the Most on Hotel Bookings?

When it comes to booking hotels, everyone wants the best deal. Planning a weekend getaway or a longer holiday, finding cheap hotels that are also beautiful and well-located can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Most people turn to Booking.com, Airbnb, or similar platforms, but are you really getting the best price?

In this comparison, we’re breaking down Secret Stays vs. Booking.com vs. Airbnb to find out which option actually saves you the most, not just in cash, but in time and peace of mind.

The Cost Breakdown: Who Really Offers Cheap Hotels?

Secret Stays

• No commission on bookings

• Members-only pricing (exclusive hotel deals not available elsewhere)

• Save more the more you book

• One annual membership fee unlocks all hotel and holiday home discounts

• Full transparency: no surprise service or cleaning fees

Typical savings: £200–£1,000+ per year for frequent travellers

Booking.com

• Widely used, but hotels pay 15–25% commission to appear

• These commissions are often baked into the room price

• Occasional “Genius” discounts for logged-in users

• Prices can fluctuate daily, hard to know when you’re actually getting a deal

Hidden cost: Higher nightly rates due to platform fees

Airbnb

• Large selection of holiday rentals and private homes

• Service fees, cleaning fees, and taxes often make the price skyrocket

• Less consistent quality: your experience may depend on the host

• Great for longer stays, but not always cheaper than hotels for short trips

Hidden cost: Up to 30% added fees at checkout

 Comparing Value Beyond Just Price

 Time vs. Money: Which Booking Experience Is Smoother?

Booking a hotel shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. Secret Stays is designed to cut out the noise, giving you fast access to pre-vetted, commission-free hotel and holiday home listings across more than 100 countries.

Unlike Booking.com or Airbnb, where you’re bombarded with pop-ups, countdowns, and fluctuating prices, Secret Stays keeps it simple:

• Search.

• Book.

• Save.

• Done.

You won’t need to compare 25 tabs or panic over “Only 1 room left!”

Real Savings, Real Stories

Our members have saved hundreds on:

• Last-minute weekend getaways

• Family holidays

• City breaks to Paris, Rome, and Barcelona

• Luxury stays at boutique hotels that don’t appear on big booking sites

Want to see how much you could save? Sign up for a 7-day free trial and explore actual listings in your favourite destinations, all without commission.

Final Verdict: Which Saves You the Most?

If you're only booking one trip a year and don’t mind digging for deals, Booking.com might feel convenient. If you're staying longer or want an apartment-style setup, Airbnb has options but with a cost.

But if you travel more than once a year, prefer stylish places to stay, and want cheap hotel deals without surprise fees, Secret Stays is the clear winner.

✅ Why Secret Stays Wins

• No commissions inflating prices

• Members-only savings across hotels and holiday homes

• No service or cleaning fees

• One annual fee, unlimited savings

• 7-day trial to test it out, no pressure

Ready to start booking smarter?
Sign up today and unlock the cheapest hotel stays without sacrificing style.